Stone wall grinding and polishing system

Abstract

A system, apparatus and method capable of grinding and polishing fabricated vertical surfaces of varying shapes and sizes without the use of hand tools. The system comprises a frame which can be affixed to the surface and which supports a grinding and polishing apparatus. The grinding and polishing apparatus uses air pressure to force a rotating grinding or polishing disc against the surface being worked on. The frame is designed so that the grinding and polishing apparatus can be moved (via, e.g., tracking) both vertically and horizontally to any desired point within the frame. The grinding and polishing apparatus optionally includes a water nozzle and vacuum system to spray and recapture water used to cool the surface being operated on.

1. An apparatus for grinding or polishing a surface, comprising:
 an open-ended hollow body; 
 a motor assembly in the hollow body set against at least one stand in a forward portion of the body by a counterforce mechanism; 
 a grinding or polishing disc attached to a forward end of the motor assembly and set in the open end of the hollow body, the grinding or polishing disc being adapted to be rotated by the motor assembly to grind or polish the surface; 
 an air stop attached to the rear of the motor to form an air chamber in the rear of the hollow body; and 
 a compressed air hose attached to the rear of the hollow body adapted to increase air pressure in the air chamber and thereby force the motor assembly and grinding or polishing disc forward against the surface to be polished. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the grinding or polishing disc has a removable abrasive surface portion. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a nozzle mounted to the body and being adapted to spray a cooling liquid at the surface to be polished. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the liquid is water. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 3 , further including a vacuum system attached to the body. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a nozzle of the vacuum system is at least as wide as a diameter of the grinding or polishing disc. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of vents to regulate the pressure in the air chamber. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a dust cover situated over at least the open end of the hollow body and grinding or polishing disc. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the counterforce means are springs. 
     
     
       10. A system for grinding or polishing a vertical or sloped surface, the system comprising:
 a frame adapted to be affixed to the vertical or sloped surface, the frame comprising at least two tracked vertically oriented rails, and a horizontally oriented rail mounted in the vertically oriented tracks; and 
 a grinding or polishing device mounted to the horizontally oriented rail, the device comprising a rotatable grinding and polishing disc, wherein compressed air is used to press the grinding and polishing disc against the vertical or sloped surface, said grinding or polishing device comprising:
 a motor assembly in a hollow body of said device and being set against at least one stand in a forward portion of the body by a counterforce mechanism, 
 the grinding or polishing disc being attached to a forward end of the motor assembly and set in an open end of the hollow body, the disc being adapted to be rotated by the motor assembly to grind or polish the surface, and 
 an air stop attached to a rear of the motor to form an air chamber in the rear of the hollow body. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the frame is affixed to the vertical surface by at least one vacuum cup. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 , further including at least four vacuum cups located at corners of the frame. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the horizontally oriented rails are curved. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the horizontally oriented rails are straight. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the surface is a substantially vertical plane. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 10 , further including a computer controllable motor assembly mounted to the horizontally oriented rail and adapted to move the grinding or polishing device vertically or horizontally to a desired point within the frame.